SPECIAL REGULATIONS NO. 63 


Relations Between Representatives 

OF THE 

American Railway Association and 
the Military Authorities 

INCIDENTAL TO THE GENERAL MOBILI¬ 
ZATION OF TROOPS 


1917 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1917 



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U C 3/3 

•/I S' 

J9/7- 


Do of D. 

MAR ’• 1913 






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SPECIAL REGULATIONS NO. 63 


WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Washington, April 20, 1917. 

The following outline of relations between representatives of 
the American Railway Association and the military authorities 
incidental to the general mobilization of troops, including in¬ 
structions relative to movement of troops, is published for the 
information and guidance of all concerned. 

[2553409, A. G. O.] 

By order of the Secretary of War: 

H. L. SCOTT, 

Major General, Chief of Staff. 

Official : 

H. P. McCAIN, 

The Adjutant General, 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


Paragraph. 

Section I. Selection, duties, and assignment of represent¬ 
atives, A. R. A_ 1-15 

Section II. Instructions relative to movements of troops. 16-67 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


A. R. A_American Railway Association. 

A. R_Army Regulations. 

F. S. R_Field Service Regulations. 

N. C. O_Noncommissioned officer. 

Q. M. G_Quartermaster Corps. 


5 











RELATIONS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES 

OF THE 

AMERICAN RAILWAY ASSOCIATION AND THE MILITARY 
AUTHORITIES, INCIDENTAL TO THE GENERAL 
MOBILIZATION OF TROOPS. 


SECTION I. 

SELECTION. DUTIES, AND ASSIGNMENT OF REPRE¬ 
SENTATIVES, A. R. A. 

Paragraph. 

Location of representatives_ 1 

Selection, duties, and credentials_ 

Assignment_ 

Change in detail of quartermaster—Special duties. 

Solution of plans of mobilization_ 

Railway equipment_ 

Correspondence with Central Bureau, A. R. A_ 

Establishment and duties of Central Bureau_ 

Routing of troops- 


Allotment of tourist equipment_ 10- 

Daily telegraphic information required from representa¬ 
tives _ 11 

Inspection of railway equipment- 12 

Make-up of trains- 13 

Supply of drinking water- 14 

Information as to troop trains delivered to connections_ 15 


1. Location of representatives.—Representatives of the 
American Railway Association designated by the Special Com¬ 
mittee on National Defense will be located in the office of the 
Chief of Staff, at each department headquarters, at each mobili¬ 
zation point, at each concentration point, at each strategic point 
at which troops are to be assembled, and with the commander of 
a line of communication upon its organization. Such other in¬ 
spectors or representatives will be designated as may be required 
to facilitate the cooperation between the transportation lines 

7; 



















8 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 

and the military service and as the needs of the service may 
indicate. 

2. Selection, duties, and credentials.—The American Rail¬ 
way Association representatives will be chosen from a class ol 
men who are broad-minded, and temperamentally men of such 
character as would take a broad view T of transportation in move¬ 
ments of troops and supplies. They must wholly divest them¬ 
selves of any disposition to work for or in favor of any particu¬ 
lar transportation line, but will apply themselves solely to the 
solution of the transportation problem in the manner most satis¬ 
factory to the Government and in such fashion as can be most 
effectively executed by the railways. They are assigned to this 
duty as transportation experts and will assist the officer with 
whom they are serving not only in the transportation of troops 
but in any other matter pertaining to transportation m which 
their assistance may be requested. The American Railway As¬ 
sociation representatives, immediately upon their arrival at the 
mobilization, concentration, or other point to which assigned 
must report in person to the commanding officer, presenting 
their credentials, issued by the transportation division of the 
General Staff. The commanding officer should then assign them 
to duty with the camp quartermaster charged with the func¬ 
tions of supplying railway transportation, to whom they act as 
an assistant and through whom generally all instructions will 
be received. These representatives among themselves will have 
the same degree of subordination as have the headquarters to 
which they are accredited. 

3. Assignment.—The assignment of American Railway Asso¬ 
ciation representatives to station at the various points and posts 
designated should be of a permanent character, so that the 
proper officer of the Quartermaster Corps or of State authori¬ 
ties will be able to communicate with such representatives 
and arrange in advance all especial details of mobilization and 
of movements to concentration and strategic points. Should it 
be impracticable for any reason for any representative so chosen 
to continue in that capacity, their places should be filled by 
other appointments supplied with credentials as provided in 
paragraph 2. 

4. Change in detail of quartermaster—Special duties._ 

The American Railway Association representative, after assign¬ 
ment to duty with a quartermaster charged with the functions 
of supplying railway transportation as contemplated in para- 


SELECTION, DUTIES, ETC., REPRESENTATIVES, A. R. A. 9 

graph 2, will be kept informed of any change made in the de¬ 
tail of this officer. Quartermasters concerned will communicate 
in writing with the A. R. A. representative indicating any spe¬ 
cial duties in addition to those herein laid down that it would 
be desirable for the A. R. A. representatives to perform. 

5. Solution of plans of mobilization.—The department quar¬ 
termasters and quartermasters at mobilization and concentra¬ 
tion points should communicate fully with the representatives 
of the American Railway Association at their respective loca¬ 
tions, in order to effect a harmonious solution of the plans of 
mobilization. Such solution should be committed to writing 
and should be such as will conform to the provisions of these 
regulations and to the “ Handbook on Rail and Water Trans¬ 
portation,” published by the office of the Quartermaster Gen¬ 
eral. 

6. Railway equipment.—All quartermasters will furnish the 
representatives of the A. R. A. on duty with them the follow¬ 
ing information regarding the movements of troops: The time 
troops will be ready to move; the amounts of railroad equip¬ 
ment for each train, showing number of each class of cars re¬ 
quired, other than tourist cars; 1 number of persons to travel; 
amount of baggage, vehicles, guns, and animals; and all other 
details necessary to enable railroad officials to act intelligently 
in assembling and placing the necessary equipment for prompt 
loading and entraining. The American Railway Association 
representative will take such action as may be necessary rela¬ 
tive to prompt furnishing of the desired railway equipment. It 
will be his duty to communicate to the quartermaster any in¬ 
formation that he may receive regarding the status of equip¬ 
ment for moving troops and supplies still in camp. His duties 
will include expeditious assembling of necessary equipment and 
arrangements for prompt loading and entraining at mobilization 
points, and for unloading and detraining and return of railway 
equipment from concentration points. 

7. Correspondence with Central Bureau, A. R. A.—The 
A. R. A. representative will communicate directly with the Cen¬ 
tral Bureau of the American Railway Association charged with 
the maintenance of information, regarding disposition of equip¬ 
ment, its liberation and return, and all other information re¬ 
lating to railway equipment and movements required by that 

1 See paragraph 10 with reference to tourist cars. 

92503°—17-2 



10 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 


bureau to complete its records. He must furnish a copy of all 
such communications to the quartermaster with whom he is 
acting in cooperation. 

8. Establishment and duties of Central Bureau.—The Cen¬ 
tral Bureau established at the War Department under the 
direction of the chairman of the Special Committee on National 
Defense should be such as to gather all necessary information 
regarding equipment needed and available; arrange for trans¬ 
fer of equipment, 1 expedite return of empties, keep informed as 
to threatened conditions of congestion, make provision for 
avoiding it, and assist in whatever way is practicable in the 
smooth operation of troop and supply trains. 

9. Routing of troops.—The routing of troops from home 
stations to mobilization camps will be in the hands of the State 
authorities. The routing of troops from mobilization camp to 
concentration and strategic points in accordance with plans of 
the General Staff will be in the hands of the Quartermaster 
General of the Army. Routing schedules will be furnished 
promptly by or through the department quartermaster to the 
camp quartermaster, showing the route to be used by each 
organization from the mobilization camp to concentration point 
or other destinations. These routes will be numbered con¬ 
secutively, and in telegraphing it will only be necessary to refer 
to the route by number. 

10. Allotment of tourist equipment.—Owing to the limited 
amount of tourist sleeping cars the allotment of tourist equip¬ 
ment will be in the hands of the office of the Quartermaster Gen¬ 
eral. Quartermasters will make direct requests on the Quarter¬ 
master General for such equipment as far in advance as possible, 
when it is definitely known troops are ready to move, giving 
name of organizations, number of officers and men to move, 
route, and approximate time of departure. 

11. Daily telegraphic information required from repre¬ 
sentatives.—The A. R. A. representatives at each camp will 
telegraph daily, in cipher, to the A. R. A. Central Bureau de¬ 
partures for the preceding 24 hours, organizations (with 
strength) to move in next 24 hours, and strength still in 
camp, with such other information as may be necessary for 
their records. The camp quartermaster should assist the 
A. R. A. representative in securing this information. 


1 See paragraph 10 with reference to tourist cars. 




SELECTION, DUTIES, ETC., REPRESENTATIVES, A. R. A. 11 

12. Inspection of railway equipment. —As soon as the rail¬ 
way equipment is received the A. R. A. representative, or some 
competent person designated by him, will make a preliminary 
inspection of the same with a view to immediately ascertaining 
and correcting any defect. If necessary, he will at once reject 
any unsuitable equipment and secure other equipment in its 
place. Before the troops are entrained a joint inspection of 
the equipment should be made by the A. R. A. representative 
and the train commander or his representative. 

13. Make-up of trains. —The camp quartermaster, after con¬ 
sultation with the train commander, should advise the A. R. A. 
representative as to the exact make-up of each train, showing 
the order in which the cars should be placed in the train. 
Trains should go through to destination intact, unless there 
is some exceptionally good reason to the contrary. Under no 
circumstances will troops be separated from their rations and 
messing facilities or animals from their forage and caretakers. 
It must be borne in mind that accidents, freight blockades, or 
action of the enemy may make it necessary to unload before 
destination is reached, and troops must have with them the 
necessary materiel. 

14. Supply of drinking water.—Particular attention should 
be paid to the supply of water for drinking purposes. The 
facilities that are sufficient for normal travel are usually inade¬ 
quate for troop movements over long distances, and a supple¬ 
mentary supply should be provided by placing a galvanized- 
iron water can filled with water on the platform of every coach 
or every Pullman or tourist car. 

15. Information as to troop trains delivered to connec¬ 
tions. —It is proposed that the A. R. A. Central Bureau shall 
take necessary steps to furnish information of all troop trains 
delivered to connections. This information should be tele¬ 
graphed direct to the office of the Quartermaster General or 
furnished immediately on receipt by the Special Committee on 
National Defense. 


12 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 


SECTION II. 

INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 

Paragraph. 

Preference to military traffic_ 16 

Movement by commercial railways is function of Q. M. C._ 17 

Quartermaster should work out movements in advance 

of orders_ IS 

Notice of movements_ 19 

Detailed list of command to be furnished_ 20 

Informal award_ 21 

Sample letter of informal award_:_ 22 

Request for freight equipment must show length desired- 23 

Units should be kept together_ 24 

Size of trains- 25 

Size of train sections_ 26 

Breaking up of tactical units to be avoided_ 27 

Railroad should be furnished full information_ 2S 

Placing equipment- 29 

Tourist sleepers for troops and officers_ 30 

Minimum number for whom special car will be furnished- 31 

Tourist berth for officers- 32 

Standard sleepers for officers- 33 

Tourist cars for troops_ 34 

Excess berths furnished, charged against officer_ 35 

Equipment used for preparation of food en route_ 36 

Kitchen cars, description of_ 37 

Use of kitchen cars- 38 

Emergency kitchen equipment_ 39 

Installing field range- 40 

Installing stovepipe_ 41 

Additional equipment necessary_ 42 

Installing stovepipe if box car is used_ 43 

Advice to commanding officer as to placing of cars_ 44 

Marking cars_ 45 

Quartermaster to be present at entraining_ 46 

Order of loading_ 47 

Arrangement of cars, if two or more sections_ 48 
































INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 13 


Paragraph. 

Duties of officer supervising loading_ 49 

Guarding cars_ 50 

Organization to load and unload_ 51 

N. C. O. to be assigned to each car_ 52 

Loading the impedimenta_ 53 

Loading vehicles set up_ 54 

Loading Field Artillery_ 55 

Loading Engineer and Signal Corps_ 56 

Loading motor vehicles_._ 57 

Loading harness and wagon parts_ 58 

Loading animals_ 59 

Disposition of bills of lading_:_ 60 

Entraining troops_ 61 

Water supply- 62 

Commander of troops sole intermediary_ 63 

Action in case of delay en route- 64 

Should see that no excess accommodations are used_ 65 

Unloading in emergencies___ 66 

Detraining and unloading_ 67 


16. Preference to military traffic.—In time of war or 
threatened war preference and precedence shall, upon the de¬ 
mand of the President of the United States, be given over all 
other traffic to the transportation of troops and material of war, 
and carriers shall adopt every means within their control to 
facilitate and expedite the military traffic. (34 Stat., 587.) 

17. Movement by commercial railways is function of 
Q. M. C.—The movement of troops and their equipment over 
commercial railways is the function of the Quartermaster 
Corps, who plan and prepare for the move in conformity with 
regulations and orders from competent authority. (F. S. Tt., 
388, 1914.) 

18. Quartermaster should work out movements in ad¬ 
vance of orders.—In order to have complete data available at 
all times for expeditious rail movements, every quartermaster 
should maintain on file in his office the consist of equipment nec¬ 
essary to move the entire command at his station as a whole, as 
well as the separate units. He should consult his commanding 
officer in reference to the arrangement of train sections and 
should complete his files by listing the supplies and equipage 
to accompany the troops under varying conditions. 




















14 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 


19. Notice of movements.—Commanding officers will give 
timely notice to the proper officers of the Quartermaster Corps 
of all contemplated movements of troops and supplies, that 
proper and sufficient transportation may be in readiness. (A. 
R. 1107, 1913.) 

20. Detailed list of command to be furnished.—Two esti¬ 
mates for rail transportation (Q. M. C. Form 469) will ordi¬ 
narily be required when organizations are moved by rail. The 
first is a preliminary estimate giving the shipping quartermas¬ 
ter the data to enable him to order the necessary cars and have 
them properly placed, and the final one is an exact return of 
the officers, enlisted men, civilian employees, animals, and vehi¬ 
cles. Separate estimates are necessarily required for each train 
section. They should give, in each instance, the following 
data: 

a. Organization and headquarters. 

&. The number of the train section (No. 1 being the first to 
depart, No. 2 the second, etc.). 

c. Destination. 

d. Name of train quartermaster. 

e. Authority for the movement. 

/. The number of officers and enlisted men, separately, for 
each arm and corps and omitting live-stock attendants. 

g. The number of civilian employees, omitting live-stock at¬ 
tendants. 

h. The number of live-stock attendants. 

i. The number of public mules, public horses, and authorized 
private horses, separately for each. 

j. The number of wagons, ambulances, guns, caissons, and 
other vehicles, separately for each. 

k. The approximate total weight of organization property, 
household goods, and checkable baggage, separately for each of 
the three items, should also be shown in the preliminary esti¬ 
mate, but not in the final one, such information being then given 
in the shipping lists and invoices (paragraphs 182 and 183). 
The date of entraining and the approximate hour of departure 
should be stated in the preliminary estimate in case the order 
or other instructions directing the movement of troops fails to 
give that information. 

21. Informal award. —In expedited movements bids need not 
be invited. Preliminary advice should be furnished the carriers 


INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 15 


orally, or by telephone, or telegraph, but in any event, a letter 
of advice will be furnished the carrier. 

22. Sample letter of informal award.— 1 The following sam¬ 
ple letter covers the general case: 

Office of the Quartermaster, 

Fort-,_, 1017. 

From: Quartermaster. 

To: (Superintendent or Agent) -Railroad Company, 


1. It is requested that the - Railroad Company 

furnish transportation from _ to _ via 

_tor approximately the following: 

_officers. 

_enlisted men. 

_pounds of freight. 

_animals. 

_vehicles. 

Officers to be furnished one berth each in standard sleeper; 
the enlisted men to be accommodated three to a section in 
tourist sleeper. 

2. It is estimated that the following equipment will be re¬ 
quired : 

_Pullman sleepers,_sections each. 

_tourist sleepers,_sections each. 

_baggage cars, with end doors. 

_kitchen cars. 

_box cars,_feet long. 

_stock cars,_feet long. 

_gondola cars,_feet long, with drop end. 

If tourist sleepers are not readily available, coaches should 
be substituted on the basis of one man to each double seat, and 
an endeavor made to secure the tourist sleepers and transfer 
the men thereto at a convenient place en route. (See * below.) 

If end-door baggage cars are not readily available, substitute 
an equal number of solid-end baggage cars. 

If kitchen cars are not readily available, an extra tourist 
car should be supplied. 

* When the approximate time required for the journey is 24 hours or 
less substitute the following: 

“ if tourist sleepers are not readily available, coaches should be sub¬ 
stituted on the basis of three men to each two double seats.” 
























16 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 


If drop-end gondolas are not readily available, solid-end gon¬ 
dolas will not answer, but an equal number of flat cars should 
be supplied. 

3. It is desired to get the troops under way as soon as prac¬ 
ticable, and it is therefore requested that delivery of the equip¬ 
ment be expedited. It is estimated that the first train section 

will be ready to leave about_o’clock,_, 191__, and will 

be followed as rapidly as possible by the other sections. 

4. It is understood that 150 pounds of personal checkable 
property per capita belonging to officers and men will be carried 
free. 

Sufficient space to be reserved in baggage cars free of charge 
for subsistence en route. The men to be allowed to take their 
arms and necessary hand baggage for the journey with them in 
the passenger cars without charge. 

All cars to be of standard quality and in good order and 
sanitary condition; passenger cars to be properly watered, 
lighted, and heated; stock cars thoroughly cleaned and bedded 
with clean earth, sand preferred; all equipment to be placed at 
point of embarkation in time for inspection before movement; 
freight cars to be placed in readiness at the most convenient 
points sufficiently in advance of passenger cars to admit of the 
loading of freight and preparation of bills of lading prior to 
the embarkation of troops. 

5. It is requested that this office be notified promptly as to 
whether or not your company will furnish the above-described 
transportation. 

In case your company can furnish the transportation, infor¬ 
mation is also desired as to date and hour equipment will arrive 
and be ready for use. Upon receipt of this information you 
will be furnished instructions as to placing of cars and make¬ 
up of trains. 


23. Request for freight equipment must show length of 
cars desired.—Attention is invited to the fact that an addi¬ 
tional charge is assessed in some cases for freight cars (includ¬ 
ing stock cars), in excess of 36 feet in length, unless such cars 
are furnished for the convenience of the carrier. In ordering 
freight equipment the quartermaster should therefore specify 
the length of cars desired and should not order a 40-foot car 
when a 36-foot car will answer the purpose. 





INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 17 

24. Units should be kept together.—Whenever organiza¬ 
tions are moved by rail, with their animals, equipment, and ma¬ 
teriel, it is desirable that complete units be kept together in 
trains divided into convenient train sections. It is preferable 
to have trains of moderate size with good speed rather than 
long trains with low speed. If it is necessary to divide a 
train, some officers and men will accompany each section. The 
troops should not be separated from the animals, materiel, 
and equipment A if it can be avoided; but if the animals are 
shipped in separate sections selected detachments under officers 
accompany them, and such sections will precede the troops. 
<F. S. R. 390.) 

25. Size of trains.—For commands of four companies of In¬ 
fantry, for one field battery (light), for a troop of Cavalry, or 
larger movements, it is ahvays better to arrange for special trains 
made up to include the freight cars carrying the command’s 
freight. This insures the arrival together at destination of the 
troops and property of the command, but will retard the move¬ 
ment of the troops themselves, as trains carrying freight cars 
can not make the same rate of speed as those composed wholly 
of passenger equipment. 

26. Size of train sections.—Under the most favorable con¬ 
ditions a single section of a troop train should not consist of 
more than 20 cars. 

The number of engines available, the kind and capacity of 
cars, the condition of the roadbed, especially as to curves, 
grades, and physical condition, the strength of the command 
in officers, men, animals, and vehicles, and whether the freight 
taken is incidental to change of station or is limited to field 
allowances, are all determining factors in ascertaining the size 
of train sections. 

Under ordinary conditions a section of a railway train will 
carry the following organizations at war strength: 

1 battalion of Infantry, or 

2 troops of Cavalry, or 

1 battery of Artillery (Light), or 

1 company of Engineers with bridge train. 

27. Breaking up of tactical units to be avoided.—The 
breaking up of tactical units should be avoided, but, as the 
size of the trains will be left to a great extent to the railroad 
officials, it will not always be possible to prevent it, and in 
case units are to be broken it is essential that the command- 


18 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 


ing officers know in advance how their troops are to be car¬ 
ried, in order that arrangements can be made for provisioning 
and caring for the troops in each section. 

28. Railroad should be furnished full information. —In 
furnishing the consist of trains, and sections thereof, the fullest 
possible information should be furnished the railroad authori¬ 
ties in order to avoid unnecessary shifting of cars or reversing 
of their relative positions after the cars have been delivered 
for loading. 

29. Placing equipment.—The freight and baggage equipment 
should be called for in ample time in advance to permit of a 
thorough inspection, careful and methodical loading without 
hurry or confusion, and to allow time for assembling the fatigue 
details between the conclusion of the loading of freight and 
baggage and the time fixed for the entraining of the troops. As 
a rule, the railroads will have little difficulty in furnishing the 
freight and baggage equipment in advance of the passenger 
equipment, though when the command is small or the amount of 
freight and baggage is small, it will be found simple to set in 
the entire equipment at one time. Where there are several 
trains to be moved, however, this is undesirable, as they occupy 
too much trackage, and if made up entire the freight and bag¬ 
gage cars are likely to be inconveniently placed for loading. 
In such cases the freight, baggage, and stock cars should be set 
in advance and conveniently placed for loading. 

30. Tourist sleepers for troops and officers.— Tourist sleep¬ 
ing cars will be provided for troops on the basis of three men 
to a section when the journey involves spending a night on the 
train; but when the number of troops is too small to justify the 
hiring of tourist sleepers, tourist sleeping-car accommodations 
on the same basis, if available, may be furnished (if the move¬ 
ment is made on a regular train carrying such cars). When the 
number of officers traveling with troops is too small to justify 
the hire by the Quartermaster Corps of a standard sleeping car 
for their accommodations, they will be furnished with such part 
of a tourist sleeping car, or other suitable sleeping car properly 
curtained off for their accommodation, as the Quartermaster 
Corps may provide for their use during the journey, one lower 
berth to be furnished to each officer if practicable (A. R. 1128, 
1913). Special sleeping or parlor cars will not be chartered 
when the expense exceeds the cost of the berths or seats author¬ 
ized to be furnished (A. R. 1132, 1913). 


INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 19 

31. Minimum number for whom special car will be fur¬ 
nished.—The provisions of these clauses of Army Regulations, 
1128 and 1132, are often misconstrued. All railroads require 
the equivalent of a certain fixed number of fares if a special car 
is furnished, and the term “ special car ” includes either a stand¬ 
ard or tourist sleeper if used exclusively by a party. This mini¬ 
mum varies from 18 to 25 fares, and quartermaster should not, 
therefore, arrange for the hiring of tourist or standard sleeper 
for parties of less than 25 unless the carrier specifically agrees 
to charge only for the number actually in the party, without 
regard to any requirement as to a minimum number of fares. 
This rule does not apply in movements of more than 25, pro¬ 
vided the number of persons transported averages 25 to the car. 
For example, if a party of 60 is traveling, and two cars are 
used, there is no objection to placing 20 in one car and 40 in 
the other. 

32. Tourist berth for officers.—If a movement consists of 
only one or two troops or companies the number of officers 
would be too small to justify the hire of a standard sleeper, and 
the regulations are explicit in stating that a lower berth in 
tourist sleeper, only, will be furnished each officer under such 
circumstances. If an officer desires an entire section he must 
pay for the difference from personal funds, as no payment 
will be authorized for an unoccupied upper berth of a section, 
even though the lower berth of this section is occupied by an 
officer. 

33. Standard sleepers for officers.—Under the provisions of 
paragraph 1128, A. R. 1913, an officer traveling with troops is 
entitled to and should be furnished with standard sleeping-car 
accommodations when standard sleeping-car accommodations 
are available and can be used by him in connection with liis 
orders directing him to travel with troops, the troops in such 
cases being accommodated in a tourist car attached to a regular 
train to which is also attached a standard sleeping car for the 
accommodation of the general public. In movements of a 
battalion, squadron, or a larger unit, standard sleepers will be 
furnished for the officers on the basis of one berth for each 
officer, a lower if practicable, otherwise an upper. The fur¬ 
nishing or use at public expense of a drawing room or com¬ 
partment for individual officers is unauthorized. 

34. Tourist cars for troops.—In all cases where tourist cars 
are used for troops, berths will be provided for the men on the 


20 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 

basis of three men to a section, the men in excess of this 
multiple being given an upper berth each. 

35. Excess berths furnished, charged against officer. —The 
number of berths authorized by Regulations only can be paid 
for from public funds. If an excess number of berths are called 
for and furnished on a request, the cost of such excess will be 
charged against the officer issuing the request. If an excess 
number of berths, not called for by the request, or tickets are 
used in transit the officer in charge of the train will be called 
upon for a remittance to cover the cost of the unauthorized 
berths. 

36. Equipment used for preparation of food en route.—- 

In movements by rail kitchen cars are provided, if practicable, 
and the length of the journey warrants; otherwise baggage 
cars are fitted up by the troops, or arrangements are made for 
procuring meals, or at least liquid coffee, at station en route. 

Careful attention is paid to the messing of the men, whether 
in kitchen cars or in the coaches where the men ride. A mess 
officer supervises the preparation and serving of the meals and 
requires the men to keep their mess kits scrupulously clean. 
(F. S. R. 397). 

The different equipments used for the preparation of food 
for recruits and organizations in movements by rail are: 

( a ) The kitchen tourist car, furnished by the Pullman Co. 

(&) The regular kitchen-car equipment. 

(c) The emergency kitchen-car equipment. 

( d ) The portable gas cooker. 

Note. —The detachment mess car is no longer furnished. 

37. Kitchen cars, description of.—The Pullman Co. have in 
service certain cars that are known as kitchen tourist cars. 
These are 16-section tourist cars with 2 sections removed, in 
which the company has installed a range and cooking equip¬ 
ment. With the cook and cook’s helper provided by the Pull¬ 
man Co., who are familiar with the use of the cooking appli¬ 
ances and the storage of food supplies, one of these cars is 
capable of preparing meals for as many as 300 men. The 14 
sections remaining in the car can be used the same as any other 
tourist car, and will therefore accommodate 42 men, on the 
basis of 3 men to a section. 

38. Use of kitchen cars. —In the movement by rail of re¬ 
cruits or organizations, when special train service is provided 
and the time required for the journey will exceed 48 hours 


( Furnished by 
the Q. M. C. 


INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 21 

(with troop trains this will usually mean a journey of about 
800 miles), and the number of men to be transported is 30 or 
more, kitchen tourist cars will be provided for the journey 
whenever practicable at the rate of 1 for each 200 men, or 
fraction thereof, and arrangements made with carriers to fur¬ 
nish a sufficient number of tables for each troop car. The 
kitchens will be completely equipped by the contractor for the 
preparation of meals, and a sufficient number of deep enameled 
plates to properly serve the troops will be provided as a part of 
the kitchen equipment. 

39. Emergency kitchen equipment.—If time will not admit 
of securing the regular kitchen equipment, a field range, No. 1, 
may be installed in the baggage or other car as an emergency 
kitchen-car equipment. 

40. Installing field range.—The method of installing this 

range in a baggage car will be as follows: Construct a box 

6 feet 8 inches long by 24i inches wide and about 12 inches 

deep, inside measurements, using or 2 inch material if avail¬ 
able. Line the sides, ends, and top edge of box with galvanized 
iron or zinc. Place box in car running lengthwise on one side 
of the car about 2 feet from the side. Fill the box with 
dirt up to about 2 inches of the top. Place a brick flush with 
top of dirt at each of the four corners where the range will 
set. Place range in box, front and oven end close up against 
end of box, and deep enough in box so that when oven door is 
opened it will lay flat on edge of box. Place boiling plate in 
box, the end resting on top of angle iron on rear of range. 

Place a brick under each front corner of boiling plate flush 

with top of dirt. The alamo attachment is not used when 
range No. 1 is installed in the above manner. Fasten range 
and boiling plate firmly to box by means of strap iron or two 
or three strands of telegraph or telephone wire. Fill space 
between range, boiling plate, and side of box with soft mud 
to prevent heat from escaping. Three, and even four, field 
ranges may be installed in a car. Box can be held firmly in 
position on floor of car by nailing 2 by 4 inch strips around 
sides and ends of box. This is important and must not be neg¬ 
lected. 

41. Installing stovepipe.—Remove one of the top ventilating- 
windows from car; tack tent guards furnished with each range 
over the opening—one on the outside of the car and one on the 
inside. Carry stovepipe up and out through the opening. End. 


22 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 

of pipe should extend about 6 inches outside of the ventilator 
opening. Elbows should be placed on end of pipe facing up and 
wired firmly to car. Wire stovepipe firmly to both sides of car. 

42. Additional equipment necessary.—The following addi¬ 
tional equipment to that supplied with each range is necessary: 

Two galvanized-iron water cans. 

Two galvanized-iron buckets. 

One elbow stovepipe. 

One hundred feet wire. 

Water cans should be filled on every possible occasion where 
stops are made. 

43. Installing stovepipe if box car is used.—If the equip¬ 
ment is to be set up in a freight car a hole would have to be cut 
in top of the car for the stovepipe, using tent guards, as ex¬ 
plained in paragraph 41, to cover the opening. A freight car 
should not be used unless absolutely necessary, as the Govern¬ 
ment will be compelled to pay for the repairs necessary to re¬ 
place car in proper condition. 

44. Advice to commanding officer as to placing of cars.— 
When the number of trains, or sections, is determined the com¬ 
manding officer will be advised by the quartermaster where the 
freight and passenger equipment for each section will be placed 
and the time when the equipment will be in position for loading. 

45. Marking cars.—As soon as freight cars are placed the 
quartermaster will mark the cars, in chalk, with the letters of 
the organization to which they are assigned. Passenger cars 
will not be marked until after the train sections are made up. 

46. Quartermaster to be present at entraining.—The quar¬ 
termaster who provides the transportation, or a duly authorized 
representative, will be present at the embarkation of the troops 
and will see that the accommodations contracted for have been 
provided. A similar course will be pursued, where practicable, 
at places where changes of route or important connections are 
to be made. If delay is necessary in either case in order to com¬ 
plete the arrangements for transportation the commanding 
officer of the troops will be fully notified. (A. It. 1114, 1913). 

In accordance with the foregoing paragraph of Army Regula¬ 
tions the quartermaster furnishing the transportation, if prac¬ 
ticable, and if not practicable, his agent, should be present at the 
loading of freight and troops. He should examine the train and 
its equipment and see that the railroad company has complied 
fully with its agreement. His presence is necessary also to 


INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 23 


adjust matters in case of controversy between the agents of the 
railroad and the commanding officer of the troops. 

47. Order of loading.—The following order should be gen¬ 
erally observed in loading: 

First. Company property, equipment, and supplies, not needed 
in transit (in box cars locked and sealed by railroad employees 
prior to departure of train), viz : 

Company property. 

Property of officers and men. 

Ammunition. 

Rations. 

Sanitary stores. 

Tentage. 

Cooking utensils. 

Second. Transportation (on gondola or flat cars), viz: 

Guns and artillery carriages. 

Pontons. 

Wagons. 

Ambulances. 

Other vehicles. 

Third. Forage (in box cars). 

Fourth. Checkable baggage, rations for use en route and arms 
(in baggage and kitchen cars under guard). 

Fifth. Animals (in stock cars). 

Sixth. Men (in coaches or sleepers). 

By this arrangement the articles needed first will be unloaded 
first. The cars should be allotted, marked, and loaded as pre¬ 
scribed in paragraphs 179 to 196 of the “ Handbook of Transpor¬ 
tation by Rail.” 

48. Arrangement of cars, if two or more sections.—If the 
organization is to be shipped in two or more sections, see that 
the proper baggage cars accompany each section, so that when 
an organization arrives in camp its baggage will be with it. At 
least two men should be in each unsealed car containing baggage 
or rations. 

49. Duties of officer supervising loading.—The officer desig¬ 
nated to superintend the loading of each train section should 
keep a list showing the initials, number, and contents of the cars 
loaded under his supervision; should see that there is no unnec¬ 
essary delay in placing the freight in the cars; that the cars are 
fully loaded; and that the work is properly done. He should 
also see that household goods are loaded in separate cars (pro- 


24 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 

vided there is sufficient quantity to make one or more carloads), 
and that all checkable baggage (the 150 pounds per passenger 
each carried free) is likewise in separate cars provided for the 
purpose. As far as practicable the property of each organization 
should be kept by itself, and the property should be placed in 
cars in the order indicated herein. He should see that cars are, 
as far as practicable, loaded to their full capacity, as the rail¬ 
road tariffs provide a minimum weight (usually 30,000 pounds) 
for each car used, and the charge for this weight is assessed 
even though the car may contain only 18,000 or 20,000 pounds, 
or a less number of pounds. 

50. Guarding cars.—In case the loading is temporarily 
stopped, he should see that the freight cars are securely locked 
or placed under suitable guard. Upon the completion of load¬ 
ing he should likewise see that the freight cars are securely 
locked or kept under suitable guard until sealed by the railroad 
authorities. 

51. Organization to load and unload. —At the proper time 
loading is begun and is carried on by the troops, pursuant to 
the orders of the commander. Heavy property may be loaded 
by details before the arrival of the troops (P. S. R. 393). 
Where the organization takes its property with it on the same 
train or other conveyance, the property is only constructively 
turned over to the shipping quartermaster. The organization 
commander or organization quartermaster supervises and 
checks the loading of it upon the cars, also supervises and 
checks the property from the cars at destination. The shipping 
quartermaster makes up the transportation requests and bills 
of lading from the data furnished to him on the shipping list or 
shipping invoices and the list of personnel. 

52. N. C. O. to be assigned to each car.—The kind and 
weight of all property loaded in each car must be shown. To 
accomplish this, when organizations take their property with 
them the commanding officer should assign a competent non¬ 
commissioned officer or enlisted man to each car with instruc¬ 
tions to make a list of boxes, barrels, crates, bundles, and other 
packages, and the weight of each. Separate lists of property 
should be made for each organization, and the number of the 
car and the initials of the line to which it belongs must be 
shown on each list. The property is thus checked into the cars, 
and in the same manner it should be checked from them at 
destination, in each case the organization commander exercis- 


INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 25 


ing such supervision as to insure that the checking is properly 
done. 

53. Loading the impedimenta.—The impedimenta, baggage, 
and rations should be so loaded that no difficulty will be had in 
unloading and separating them and distributing them to the 
proper owners. The same noncommissioned officers who super¬ 
intend the loading should be assigned the same duty in unload¬ 
ing. All such property, except the light hand baggage of offi¬ 
cers and blanket rolls of enlisted men, should be placed in the 
cars prior to entraining the troops, leaving nothing to go into 
the passenger coaches and sleepers except that which will be 
carried on the backs of the men and in the hand, so that as 
the troops are detrained the coaches will be left entirely free of 
any form of impedimenta and can at once be taken away by the 
railroad company. The property and baggage of each company 
will be stored separately as far as possible. Every article of 
baggage and property should be plainly marked or labeled. It 
is not practicable to furnish checks for this class of property. 
The travel rations for the journey, unless distributed to the 
troops, should be placed in an open-end baggage or freight car, 
next the loading coach. 

54. Loading vehicles set up.—The most suitable car for 
loading vehicles, shipped on their own wheels, of all kinds (ex¬ 
cept motor vehicles), including Artillery, Engineer, and Signal 
Corps organizations, is the 36-foot, drop-end, gondola (coal) car. 
Where there are a large number of vehicles to load the entire 
number of cars necessary can be placed, at one time, coupled 
together, a ramp placed at the end of the strings of cars and the 
vehicles run on the end car and pushed to the other end of the 
line of cars until all are loaded. After the loading is completed 
2 by 4 scantlings should be spiked to the floor, outside of the 
wheels, to prevent lateral movements. Chocks, at least 3 inches 
high and of sufficient width, or suitable skids, should be spiked 
in place in front and in the rear of the wheels to prevent longi¬ 
tudinal movements. Five-inch spikes, or 40-penny nails, should 
be used for the nailing. The drop-ends should be raised and 
secured. If drop-end gondolas can not be secured the solid-end 
gondola will not answer the purpose, but an equal number of 
36-foot flat cars should be substituted in lieu of the drop-end 
gondolas. These should be loaded as outlined above, and, after 
loading is completed, should be chocked and blocked as described 


26 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 


above. A further precaution may be taken to prevent shifting 
by using gunny sacks, doubling them twice, and passing over the 
felloe next the floor and spiking down on each side. 

55. Loading Field Artillery.—Field Artillery is loaded by 
the organizations themselves, the 36-foot gondola or flat car 
being used. Six of such cars are required for the transportation 
of the carriages of a battery at maximum strength and five for 
a battery at minimum strength. (See Chapter XII, Volume IV, 
Drill and Service Regulations for Field Artillery, 1916, with ref¬ 
erence to loading personnel and materiel and - to quantity of 
rolling stock required.) 

56. Loading Engineer and Signal Corps.—Engineer and 
Signal Corps organizations will also be loaded on cars by the 
oroganizations themselves, gondola or flat cars being used for 
the vehicles. 

To transport the bridge equipage of engineer organizations 
by rail will require the following number of cars: 

A division of heavy equipage—ten 40-foot cars, or thirteen 
36-foot cars, or five 40-foot and five 36-foot cars. 

A division of light equipage—seven 40-foot cars, or ten 36- 
foot cars. 

Where mixed lengths of cars are furnished, the number of 
cars required may be determined from the table showing what 
each car will accommodate: 


HEAVY EQUIPAGE. 


40-foot cars: 

One ponton wagon and 
one chess wagon, or 
One ponton wagon and 
one tool wagon, or 
One trestle wagon and one 
chess wagon, or 
One trestle wagon and one 
tool wagon, or 
Two chess wagons, or 
Two tool wagons, or 
One chess wagon and one 
tool wagon. 


36-foot cars: 

One ponton wagon, or 
One trestle wagon, or 
Two chess wagons, or 
Two tool wagons, or 
One chess wagon and one 
tool wagon. 



INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 27 


LIGHT EQUIPAGE. 


40-foot cars: 


36-foot cars: 

One tool wagon and one 


One tool wagon and one 


trestle wagon, or 
One ponton wagon and 


chess wagon, or 
One trestle wagon, or 
One ponton wagon, or 
One chess wagon. 


one chess wagon, or 
Two ponton wagons, or 


One trestle wagon. 

57. Loading motor vehicles.—Automobile cars should be 
provided, if possible, but whenever impracticable to obtain 
them motor vehicles may be loaded on flat cars or coal cars 
from which one end has been removed. The best type of auto¬ 
mobile. car is similar to a furniture car, with a large door at 
each end. Others are provided with an extra-wide door at 
side. When not loaded in box cars they will be securely 
fastened, to prevent shifting of position, and be properly pro¬ 
tected by paulins. All loose and detachable articles must be 
placed in strong boxes and securely attached to vehicles or 
floor of car. Water tanks on vehicles operated by gasoline or 
naphtha will be emptied when shipments are made during 
freezing weather. Gasoline tanks will be emptied, and batteries 
of electrically propelled vehicles discharged, before shipment. 

58. Loading harness and wagon parts.—The harness is car¬ 
ried in a box car. When sacks are available the harness of 
each pair is sacked, plainly marked, and stored in the box car. 
If sacks are not available, the wagon cover may be used to 
wrap the harness pertaining to a single wagon. Tongues, spare 
reaches, and doubletrees should be placed in wagon bed. The 
wagon whip, mule blankets, and small accessories that can not 
be locked into the tool and jockey boxes, should be loaded into 
the harness car. For long journeys an extra car may be re¬ 
quired for forage. 

59. Loading animals.—Except in hot weather, as many ani¬ 
mals as possible should be packed in the car, as they will ride 
better than if loosely packed. If an animal happens to fall 
down in the car, it will be almost impossible for it to get up, 
and the probabilities are that it will be trampled to death. 

The loading should be done quietly, and the animals made to 
follow one another promptly, so as to avoid delay and to keep the 
animals moving, otherwise they may be disposed to balk. In some 



28 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 

cases it may be necessary to blindfold an animal before he can be 
Led into the car. An obstinate animal can be made to enter by 
holding its head up, twisting its tail, and pushing it by main 
force into the car. A rope or strap passed in rear of the haunches 
and drawn forward by a man at each end is often effective in 
urging an animal along the ramp. Before loading see that 
door on farther side of car is closed and fastened, and after 
loading is complete fasten the second door. 

In shipments of less than carload lots a barrel of water, with 
a block of wood to prevent splashing, should be supplied. 

On account of danger from fire, neither hay nor straw is car¬ 
ried in stock cars. A short ration of grain (about 6 pounds) is 
sufficient to supply animals while traveling by rail. (P. S. R. 
399, 1914.) 

Smoking is prohibited in cars loaded with animals or forage. 
(F. S. R. 396, 1914.) 

60. Disposition of bills of lading.—In order to prevent delay 
in delivering the bills of lading to the last carrier at destination, 
they should be handed to the train quartermaster, who should 
not fail to properly accomplish and deliver them to the railroad 
agent at the point of destination, except that, where there is an 
established quartermaster at destination, the bills of lading will 
be turned over to the latter for accomplishment, together with 
a statement by the train quartermaster that all property has 
been received in good condition, or, if there is any shortage or 
damage, with a statement of articles damaged, cause of damage, 
and the money value. 

61. Entraining troops.—The commanding officer of the troops 
should detail an officer as entraining officer, to proceed to the 
point of entraining in advance of the arrival of the command, 
to arrange, in conjunction with the quartermaster, for the 
proper assignment of the cars to the command. The quarter¬ 
master should cause all cars to be marked with chalk, designat¬ 
ing the organization to occupy each, and the number of men for 
each car. These marks should be placed on the side of the car 
near the steps. He will furnish each organization with a writ¬ 
ten memorandum, showing the number of the train, number and 
kind of cars, the direction headed, the point where located on 
the tracks, the point for entraining, and the hour for entraining 
and dispatch. 


INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. 29 

The troops should be marched to the entraining point not more 
than 15 minutes before the time fixed for the departure of the 
train. 

If necessary, a guard will be established in the vicinity of the 
point of entraining, the necessity of which will be determined, 
under direction of the commanding officer, by the staff officer 
sent to reconnoiter the route. If a guard is required about the 
approaches, it will precede the troops, and as soon as the latter 
are entrained it will quickly follow. 

The entraining officer will, as the command approaches, indi¬ 
cate to each company commander the car or cars he is to 
occupy, and the company commander will march his command 
directly aboard, using but one end of the car when he is to 
occupy the entire car or a part thereof. The men in the lead 
should be directed to proceed at once to their places in the car, 
so as not to block the aisles. 

G2. Water supply. —The men as soon as entrained will at 
once be cautioned in the economical use of water, as few cars 
are equipped to furnish more than a meager supply. A sup¬ 
plementary supply should be provided by arranging with the 
railroad company to place a galvanized-iron water can filled 
with water on the platform on each coach. Such provision 
should be made a part of the agreement. To conserve the sup¬ 
ply the commanding officer should place a guard at each water 
tank, or barrel, to see that none is wasted. 

63. Commander of troops sole intermediary. —The com¬ 
mander is the sole intermediary between the troops and the 
railroad personnel. In case of deficiencies and other matters 
requiring correction, he addresses himself to the officials in 
charge only (F. S. R. 396). 

64. Action in case of delay en route. —The commanding 
officer of each train section, if there is any unusual delay en 
route, should first take up the matter with the conductor or 
special agent aboard; but if the delay still continues after a 
reasonable time has elapsed, he should communicate by wire 
with the division superintendent of the railroad company ad¬ 
vising him of the delay and requesting prompt action as to 
forwarding. 

65. Should see that no excess accommodations are used.— 
He should bear in mind that the contract, or agreement, with 
the railroad company is the basis for payment for the accom-- 


30 AMERICAN RY. ASSO. AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES. 

modations furnished; and, in so far as the military passengers 
aboard are concerned, he should therefore see that no seats, 
berths, or other accommodations in excess of those authorized 
by regulations or provided for in the contract or agreement are 
used when it can be avoided. He should keep data regarding 
such delays en route and other matters as compel his command 
to unavoidably use the railway equipment beyond the scheduled 
time for arrival, including a reasonable time for detraining and 
unloading. 

66. Unloading in emergencies.—On account of accidents, 
freight blockades, or action of the enemy it may be necessary 
to unload in the open country. In such cases portable or im¬ 
provised ramps will have to be used. Lacking these the train 

. may be stopped in a low cut and crossties, baled hay, car doors, 
and turf utilized for the rapid construction of ramps of suffi¬ 
cient height to permit unloading of animals (F. S. R. 402, 1914). 

67. Detraining and unloading.—The train schedule is ar¬ 
ranged, when practicable, for arrival at destination by day¬ 
light. The troops are notified in time to prepare for detraining. 
The officers and guard are the first to leave the cars. The com¬ 
mander meets the staff officer sent to the train to deliver the 
instructions of the local commander, gets his bearing, and orders 
the troops to detrain. As soon as the passenger coaches or 
sleeping cars are empty the quartermaster, or a specially desig¬ 
nated officer, accompanied by the conductor or other railroad 
representative, makes an inspection of the cars and notes their 
condition; the result is reported to the commander. The troops 
procure their field kits and march to camp without delay, leav¬ 
ing suitable details to unload and bring up the property. If 
the camp is distant, arms are stacked and a part or all of the 
command unloads the train. 


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